Rotary abrading tool



Oct. 16, 1956 o. PETERSON 2,766,564

ROTARY ABRADING TOOL.

Filed April 19, 1954 INVENTOR. PZ/fif/V 0. Pi TfRJO/V Ur e/L Y LVWAJ A TTOKIVE Y5.

ROTARY ABRADING TOOL Ruben 0. Peterson, University Heights, Ohio, assignor to The Osborn Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, 01110, a corporation of Ohio Application April 19, 1954, Serial No. 424,010

Claims. (Cl. 51-193) This invention relates as indicated to a novel rotary, surface-finishing tool, and more particularly to a tool especially adapted to clean, polish, etc., the interior surfaces of blind holes and the like. This application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application Serial No. 295,406, filed June 25, 1952, now Patent No. 2,690,631, dated October 5, 1954, in turn a continuationin-part of application Serial No. 90,585, filed April 30, 1949, now Patent No. 2,603,921, dated July 22, 1952.

Various types of rotary brushes have been employed in the past for the purpose of cleaning and surface-finishing tubular articles such as boiler tubes and the like but no such tool has been available which would simultaneously similarly clean or finish the end of a blind opening. The ordinary type of twisted wire stem brush is, of course, unable to perform any such function since the brush material therein extends only laterally and, in fact,

care must ordinarily be taken to see that the end of the brush does not actually contact the blind end of the opening since otherwise the stem portion thereof may actually mar the work, and the brush material may become distorted. For this reason, it is usually impossible as a practical matter even to brush the lateral surfaces of the hole closely adjacent the inner end thereof.

It is therefore a primary object of my invention to provide a novel rotary tool adapted to clean, polish and surface condition not only the lateral surfaces of an opening in a-work-piece but also simultaneously a blind end of such opening.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such tool which will be very inexpensive of manufacture and which is readily adapted for use with such standard rotary driving means as drill presses, hand drills, and the like.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a tool of the type indicated in which the surface-finishing material is firmly held and which will therefore have a relatively long life.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one typical embodiment of my new rotary tool;

Fig. 2 is a form of such tool modified for ease of manu facture;

Fig. 3 is a similar form of tool contoured to operate within a stepped opening;

Fig. 4 is a brushing element adapted to be employed nited States PatcfjltO in my new tool and comprising a plurality of layers of screen material secured together;

Fig. 5 is an edgewise view of such element;

Fig. 6 shows a tool including such element, the latter being sectioned centrally thereof;

Fig. 7 shows a holder adapted to be employed in conjunction with the tool of my invention;

Fig. 8 shows such holder with such tool secured therein;

Fig. 9 is an end view of the tool and holder combination of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 shows a helically formed tool of the twisted stem type made in accordance with my invention.

Referring now more particularly to said drawing and especially Figs. 1-3 thereof, I may employ a rectangular section of sheet material such as felt 1, having appreciable thickness, as the operative or brushing element. As shown in Fig. l, a wire 2 may beinserted through a hole 3 spaced from the edge of such felt element and then doubled and twisted upon itself to form a twisted stem 4. The layer of felt is thus firmly secured between the straight parallel retaining portions 5 of the wire stem member.

Ease of manufacture is greatly increased if a narrow slot 6 is provided extending from hole 3 to the lower edge 7 of the felt element extending in the direction opposite to stem 4. When assembling the tool, the wire member may then be passed laterally through such slot either prior to doubling of the wire or after such wire has preliminarily been formed into an open loop rather than requiring that the end of the wire hole 3., The end portions of such open wire loop are then, of course, twisted together to form the stem 4 and to tightly secured the felt element between the parallel retaining portions 5.

As shown in Fig. 3, the sides and ends of the felt element may be trimmed or shaped to any desired contour to adapt the same to the shape of the particular opening to be operated upon. In this instance a stepped construction is shown with the portion 8 of the felt element adjacent the endof the latter having a lesser lateral dimension than the upper portion 9. It is, of course, apparent that such element may be trimmed to a tapered, semi-circular, or any other desired form as long as such element is symmetrical relative to its axis as defined by the wire stem retaining member.

Referring now to Figs. 46 inclusive, there is there illustrated another modified form of my new rotary tool which in this instance may comprise a plurality of layers of crosswise placed wires 10 bound together by means of a suitable plastic or by weaving and a suitable plastic. Examples of suitable plastic are rubber, neoprene (polychloroprene), melamine, or nylon (polyamide resins). Thus, when using certain very hard filamentous materials such as Hadfield steel or glass fibers which may have a hardness factor in excess of 600 Knoop, such filaments may simply be laid in transverse layers bonded together with such plastics. The wire stem member is inserted through the hole 11 as shown in Fig. 6 and twisted to form the stem 4 similarly to the Fig. 1 construction. Any of the powdered abrasives such as Carborundum Or Alundum, for example, may be incorporated with the bonding material which is ordinarily an elastomer. For ease of assembly of the operating element the bonding material such as neoprene may be provided in sheet form and alternate layers of such sheet and the wire cloth may be stacked one upon the other, compressed under pressure, and the neoprene then cured. As in the case of the Fig. 3' construction, the finished element may likewise be cut to desired contour. It will of course be apparent that when the wire stem member is parallel to one set of strands composing the wire mesh there will be provided brushing strands operative to act upon both the sides Patented Oct. 16, 1956' be passed through the and end of a blind passage. If desired, the several layers of wire cloth or screening may be superimposed and bonded together with the component strands of one layer lying at an angle to strands of other layers, and this may be desirable in certain instances as where the finished element is to have a tapered contour, for example.

Tools of the type above described may desirably be mounted in holders (Figs. 7-9) comprising a tubular portion 12 and a shank 13 adapted to be inserted in a drill press collet, for example. Bore 14 of tubular portion 12 is dimensioned to receive the twisted stem 4 of my new tool with the brushing element 15 held and supported in transverse slot 16 in the end of such tubular portion 12. The brushing element 15 corresponds to the element 1 of Fig. l or any of the various modifica= tions thereof. A set screw 17 may be. employed to secure stem 4 in place. It will thus be seen that means is provided for supporting the brushing element in a convenient manner permitting ready replacement of the latter when necessary, and without any danger of either the wire retaining member 5 or of tubular holder 12 contacting and damaging the work-piece.

In Fig. 10 there is illustrated another embodiment of my invention wherein a strip of felt 18, similar to element 1 of Fig. l but much more elongated, is clamped between retaining wire portions 19 doubled through hole 20, which latter wire portions are twisted after formation of twisted stem portion 4 to impart a helical configuration to such strip of felt as shown. The end 21 of the latter is, of course, adapted to act upon the end of a blind hole or passageway and further serves to prevent contact of the doubled retaining wire with the work.

While the felt or other operating element may ordinarily be sufiiciently firmly secured between the. wire portions 5 simply by twisting such portions together as explained, it is often desirable to forcibly press such wire portions together, as between dies, to compact and secure such element therebetween. Pressures on the order of 10,000 to 20,000 lbs. per square inch or more may sometimes be imposed although considerably lower pressures are sufiicient where the operating element is of relatively compressible material. Where high pressures are employed, the wire will desirably have a flat face, as with half-round wire, which will be directed toward the element to obviate any danger of cutting the latter. A more rigid structure is likewise obtained. and flexure is not concentrated along a single line in use.

When a tool of the Fig. 10 type is to be produced having a relatively long strip of material to be secured I between retaining wire portions, it is particularly desirable that such portions be flat faced as above described and that the material be compacted. therebetween by application of pressure. The stem portion 4 will then preferably be twisted prior to twisting of such retaining portions.

The operating or brushing element may comprise a wide variety of materials, as above indicated. Such materials should, however, be self-supporting (i. e. not limp) and will be selected for the particular use contemplated. Thus, layers of abrasive paper or abrasive cloth, or layers of each, may be bonded together, preferably by means of an elastomer, to form such element of my new article. The paper or cloth will desirably have abrasive adhered to both sides thereof before being assembled to form the element. Such element, whileselfsupporting, should. not be entirely rigid but should be capable of flexing in use. The wire structures 10 will therefore preferably be of wire of the type used in power brushes having a certain resilience, and. snap action. Layers of cotton fabric buff material and similar fabrics may be stapled or riveted together rather than bonded. if a softer buff-type element is desired and, infact, in some cases the clamping action of the wire retaining member may be relied upon to secure aplurality of such layers of sheet material without any means being provided actually attaching the layers together.

The surface-finishing element will thus be seen to comprise a generally flat sheet of substantial thickness (so as to present an effective work-contacting surface) of flexible material, which for many purposes will also be resilient in character. Such element should, of course, be of a contour symmetrical relative to the wire stem member which defines the axis of rotation.

. The wire stem member may be considered as passing through the body of the surface-finishing element whether it is forced through, inserted through a hole, or doubled through a notch therein. In any event, the point of doubling of such member is located inwardly from the end of the element and therefore cannot contact the work. Such doubled portions may be secured together beyond the body of the surface-finishing element by other means than by twisting together, as by soldering, clipping or wrapping, or insertion in a suitable holder. Twisting is ordinarily a suitable method, however, being quick and inexpensive, and, even when pressures in excess of the tensile strength of the wire are required to be imposed to. compact the body of the surface-finishing element between the doubled portions of the wire, when such element has been thus compacted the wire will be found sufficiently strong to retain the material in compacted state. Instead of steel or other metal wire, it will be apparent that equivalent elongated stem members of suitable synthetic plastic materials may be employed. Wire stem members will, however, ordinarily be employed, and the resultant stems may desirably be ground or otherwise finished to provide a substantially true and cylindrical stem suitable for mounting in a drill press or other high, speed rotary machine tool.

While, in the Fig. 10 embodiment, an elongated rectangular sheet or strip 18 is shown with the wire 19 passed therethrough at a point on the longitudinal axis adjacent one end, thereof, it will be understood that such end may instead be slitted or notched to receive the doubled wire. Also, the strip or sheet of surface-finishing material may, for example, be of greater width adjacent the twisted stem 4 and taper toward the end, depending on the particular operation for which the tool is designed.

The term surface-finishing as employed herein is intended to include cleaning, polishing and like operations.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided: the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly, claim as my invention:

1. A rotary tool comprising a plurality of generally fiat layers of wire mesh, a bonding medium securing said layers together, fine abrasive material held by said bonding medium, said bonded mesh layers having a hole therethrough, and a wire stem. member passed through such hole and doubled upon itself to clamp said layers between straight parallel wire portions, the wire portions extending beyond said layers being twisted together to form a twisted stem and to secure said layers.

2. A rotary tool comprising a plurality of generally fiat layers of wire mesh of like dimensions, and a wire stem member passed through said layers at a point spaced inwardly from the edges thereof and doubled upon itself to clamp said layers between straight parallel wire portions, the wire portions extending beyond said layers being secured together to form a stern and hold said layers thus tightly clamped.

3. A rotary tool comprising a plurality of generally flat layers of fiber-glass fabric of like dimensions, and a wire stem member passed through said layers at a point spaced inwardlyfrom' the-edges thereof and doubled upon itself to clamp said layers between straight parallel Wire portions, the wire portions extending beyond said layers being secured together to form a stem and hold said layers thus tightly clamped.

4. A rotary tool comprising an elongated rectangular fabric sheet of substantial thickness of self-supporting flexible material, and a wire stem member passing through said sheet at a point on the latters longitudinal axis adjacent one end of the same and doubled along such axis to clamp the longer portion of the latter therebetween, the Wire portions extending beyond the end of said sheet of material being twisted together to secure said sheet and form a stem, and said wire portions thus clamping said sheet being twisted to impart a helical conformation t0 the respective outer lateral edges of said sheet.

5. A rotary tool comprising a sheet of substantial thickness of self-supporting flexible material, and a wire stem member passing through said sheet and doubled upon itself to clamp such material therebetween, the portions of said member extending beyond said sheet being secured together to form a stem and the portions thus clamping such material therebetween being twisted to impart a helical conformation to said sheet.

6. A rotary tool comprising a plurality of superimposed thin sheets of wire mesh and a stem member symmetrically secured thereto and extending therefrom in the general plane of said sheets, the end portion of said stem member secured to said sheets terminating at a point spaced inwardly from the edges of said sheets to permit said tool to act upon both laterally and axially disposed work surfaces.

7. A rotary tool comprising a plurality of superimposed hin sheets of glass fiber and a stem member symmetrically secured thereto and extending therefrom in the general plane of said sheets, the end portion of said stern member secured to said sheets terminating at a point spaced inwardly from the edges of said sheets to permit said tool to act upon both laterally and axially disposed work surfaces.

8. A rotary tool comprising a sheet of self-supporting material, and an elongated stern member secured to said sheet along a central line with such sheet material extending symmetrically to each side thereof, one end of said stem protruding beyond said sheet and the other end terminating short of the edge of said sheet, said stem and sheet being twisted to impart a helical conformation to said sheet longitudinally of said stem.

9. A rotary tool comprising a sheet of self-supporting felt material, and an elongated stem member secured to said sheet along a central line with such sheet material extending symmetrically to each side thereof, one end of said stem protruding beyond said sheet and the other end terminating short of the edge of said sheet, said stem and sheet being twisted to impart a helical conformation to said sheet longitudinally of said stem.

10. A rotary tool comprising a sheet of self-supporting resiliently flexible wire fabric material, and an elongated stern member secured to said sheet along a central line with such sheet material extending symmetrically to each side thereof, one end of said stem protruding beyond said sheet and the other end terminating short of the edge of said sheet, said stem and sheet being twisted to impart a helical conformation to said sheet longitudinally of said stem.

11. A rotary tool comprising a sheet of self-supporting abrasive material, and an elongated stem member secured to said sheet along a central line with such sheet material extending symmetrically to each side thereof, one end of said stem protruding beyond said sheet and the other end terminating short of the edge of said sheet, said stem and sheet being twisted to impart a helical conformation to said sheet longitudinally of said stem.

12. A rotary tool comprising layers of stiff hard generally straight cutting element filaments arranged transversely of each other and secured together to form a generally flat surface-finishing element, and a wire stem member passing therethrough at a point spaced from the edges thereof and doubled on itself to clamp said element therebetween, the portions of said member extending beyond said element being joined together to form a stem.

13. A rotary tool comprising layers of hard stiff generally straight filaments arranged transversely of each other and bonded together with a resilient plastic material to form a surface-finishing element, and a wire stem member passing therethrough at a point spaced from the edges thereof and doubled on itself to clamp said element therebetween, the pontions of said member extending beyond said element being joined together to form a stem.

14. A rotary tool comprising layers of hard non-woven stiif wire filaments arranged transversely of each other and bonded together to form a surface-finishing element, and a wire stem member passing therethrough at a point spaced from the edges thereof and doubled on itself to clamp said element there'between, the portions of said member extending beyond said element being joined together to form a stem.

15. A rotary tool comprising layers of hard stiff filaments arranged transversely of each other and bonded together with a resilient plastic material to form a surface-finishing element, and a wire stem member passing therethroug-h at a point spaced from the edges thereof and doubled on itself to clamp said element therebetween, the portions of said member extending beyond said element being joined together to form a stem and with said stem member and element clamped thereby being twisted to impart a helical conformation to said element longitudinally of said member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,361,861 Howell Dec. 14, 1920 1,389,071 Pess'els Aug. 30, 1921 2,138,882 Robie Dec. 6, 1938 2,370,490 Rice Feb. 27, 1945 2,370,491 Rice Feb. 27, 1945 2,522,613 Harrison et al Sept. 19, 1950 2,603,921 Peterson July 22, 1952 

